Wi-Fi 6 is maturing into a new role that complements LTE-M and 5G connectivity, according to a new white paper from Quectel Wireless Solutions.

The new paper, "Why Wi-Fi 6 and Cellular Networks Join Hands for a Hyper-Connected Enterprise Future," reveals that Wi-Fi is currently used in indoor applications such as stadiums, large venues, offices and hotels, and also in the automotive industry. Used outdoors for monitoring, maintenance and infotainment to personalize vehicle functions. The newspaper also revealed that Wi-Fi 6 has dominated Wi-Fi shipments.

Research firm IDC predicts that over the next two years, the technology will account for 79 percent of all Wi-Fi device shipments, and by 2022, more than 3.5 billion Wi-Fi 6 devices will ship capable of supporting 6GHz. The new paper features further market forecasts and provides a history of the technology. Additionally, it reveals popular use cases driving Wi-Fi6 adoption.

Wi-Fi 6 can offer high data rates, low latency and high network density, which obviously bring many benefits to private networks. For example, use cases such as video applications require high throughput, industrial controls require low latency, and smart homes require a large number of fixed device connections. However, this is not sufficient for all types of applications, such as applications with high mobility requirements, such as POS devices, or applications requiring very long-distance communication. For applications such as outdoor IP cameras, the Wi-Fi range may not be sufficient.

Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, connected car and infotainment industries are all looking to leverage Wi-Fi 6 and 5G as complementary technologies. Therefore, it is important to evaluate both technologies at the same time and recognize that each has compelling characteristics to bring to the business. For example, municipalities have adopted a combination of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G to power smart city solutions such as real-time traffic monitoring and geofencing apps that can send personalized alerts to anyone within a predetermined geographic area . In addition, applications utilizing Wi-Fi 6 and cellular connectivity are becoming more popular in healthcare, retail and sports.

Quectel has seen numerous applications in the automotive market. Wi-Fi 6 features access points designed to support gigabit in-vehicle hotspots and provide efficient Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the vehicle, support for Ultra High Definition (Ultra High Definition) video streaming on multiple displays, screen mirroring for compatible devices and a wireless backup camera. It also features full MIMO client capabilities designed to extend range at high data rates to connect to external access points for car services such as vehicle diagnostics, software updates and automatic check-in upon arrival at the dealership. Additionally, the technology will provide better connectivity and an enhanced in-car experience. As vehicle connectivity continues to evolve from 4G to 5G, Wi-Fi 6 is an integral part of the connectivity evolution as it enables seamless connectivity across multiple devices in congested environments.

In early 2021, Quectel announced a new line of Wi-Fi 6 modules, including the industrial-grade FC6X series based on the Qualcomm QCA206x Wi-Fi six-chip designed to provide a faster, safer, more robust Wi-Fi experience and New Bluetooth audio capabilities. The company also launched an automotive-grade AF50T module based on Qualcomm's automotive Wi-Fi 6 chip, the QCA6696.

The two module families are designed to improve performance in terms of capacity, data rate, latency, power consumption and coverage. They bring superior wireless performance to a variety of consumer, industrial, and automotive applications such as smart home, MiFi, smart TV, OTT devices, industrial controls, customer premises equipment (CPE), connected vehicles, and more.

When combined with Quectel's 5G modules, the Wi-Fi 6 module family provides a superior 5G and Wi-Fi 8 solution for MiFi and CPE, designed to ensure high-speed connectivity, support up to 32 clients at a time, and ensure smart Smoother and more reliable connections for home gadgets and many other multi-user scenarios. It also reduces network congestion in complex indoor scenarios such as smart homes, shopping malls, schools, and factories. In addition, the FC6X series utilizes the WPA3 encryption mode to greatly improve the security of Wi-Fi connections.